The Boxing Day Banana Walk

It has long been a tradition of ours to enjoy a walk on Boxing Day and this year we planned to hike the Masca Barranco. Unfortunately, Jack pulled a calf muscle just two days before Christmas and, fearing that he may not be match fit for our trip to Guimaraes, we decided that hiking of any kind was out of the question.

But as Boxing Day dawned like high summer, and having spent the morning working, the bright sunshine got the better of me and I abandoned Jack and the pc to head off into the banana plantations.

It had been quite some time since I last walked the circuit from our house, through the banana plantation to La Paz and then along the coastal path towards Bollullo Beach, returning home along the Bollullo road. Setting out from the house with just two hours to spare before we were due to head into town to watch the Man Utd match, I put on a brisk pace as I cut down through the plantation towards La Paz.

Usually, I see several other walkers, some joggers and the occasional ‘cruiser’ along my route but on Boxing Day the route was the walking equivalent of the M6 on a Monday morning with new Christmas walking shoes and festive bellies much in evidence. At my usual sitting down spot to catch my breath and soak up the sea air, there wasn’t room for a single cheek on the benches so, red faced and sweaty, I pressed onwards. The downhill section of the walk was now over and with the mercury creeping ever further up the thermometer, it was all uphill from here.

Thankfully, the vast majority of my fellow walkers were doing the route the other way around, from Bollullo to La Paz, and once I left the coastal path I was on my own again. Pushing onwards to the picnic zone, I stopped for a drink of water and a glance at the time which revealed my woeful underestimate of the time this walk takes. Only three quarters of the way through my circuit, I was never going to make it back in time, and skipping the shower was NOT an option. Having rung Jack to come and collect me, my brisk pace was upped a gear to an ungainly half run and by the time the welcome face of Cindy (the Punto) appeared, I was a gasping, sweating mess.

Still, up until the point I looked at the time, it had been a most enjoyable excursion and good to see the fat, little bananas ripening on their stems.

Related Articles

Following a cobbled path that climbed gradually into the meadows above the village, we skirted fields of old vines secreted amongst the proliferation of grasses and wild flowers that had sprung into life with the winter rains… […]

Walking in Tenerife is an absolute joy. As long as you keep away from privately owned land, you can walk almost anywhere without being shouted at. But you have to be wise to some of the ‘guidance’ that you can encounter on routes. […]

Be the first to comment

Walk This Way Tenerife – Guidebook

More than just a collection of the best walking routes for the island, Walk This Way Tenerife is a complete guide to self-guided walking on Tenerife. From an understanding of the island’s micro climates and how they can affect walking conditions, and hints and tips about footwear, clothing and equipment, to recommended places to stay for easy access to the best routes... [Find Out More]

These are the walks that we love on Tenerife – we hope you enjoy them as much as we do.Buy Island Walks

The Real Tenerife Guidebook – in paperback & Kindle

For visitors to Tenerife who want to experience the best of Tenerife:- The 'Real' Tenerife guide to Tenerife's resorts, towns and villages is written with insight and passion by travel writers who have spent years treading the streets of every town and village, trekking along goat trails in the mountains and revelling at fiestas until dawn... [Find Out More]

Real Tenerife Island Drives

People in over 30 countries have discovered the best of Tenerife by car with our glove compartment friendly glossy guidebook Real Tenerife Island Drives. Available online in PDF format. [More Information...]

Subscribe to have the latest articles from Walking Tenerife sent direct to your inbox